Toy



Feb. 14, 1961 B. c. REED ET AL 2,971,289

TOY

Fil d Feb. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR.

BAM/PD 0 R662) BY 67/7/6996 1/6/775 Feb. 14, 1961 B. c. REED ETA]. 2,971,289

TOY

Filed Feb. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States PatentO TOY Bayard C. Reed and Gunars Licitis, Chicago, Ill., assiguors to Marvin I. Glass, Chicago, 111.

Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,681

2 Claims. (Cl. 46-104) The invention relates to a movable toy generally in the form of an animal such as a dog and having a head which is movable on the body of the animal into dilferent positions, the position of the head being controlled by the direction of movement of the toy over the surface by which the toy is supported.

a motive element, for example, a spring, the operation of which is compatible with the movements of the dog in going out on a bone-seeking errand, and in retrieving the bone.

"Additional objects and novel features of the invention will be disclosed as the description proceeds. The construction and operation of the toy will be described in connection with a toy in the form of Ia small dog with two heads, one at each end of the dog, each head being capable of being positioned in a raised or lowered position, and wherein the heads are connected 7 together in such manner that when one of the heads is lowered, the other is raised, and vice versa. In the drawings accompanying this application: Figure l is a side view of thetoy starting out. on its bone seeking expedition;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same dog returning from his errand with bone in mouth? Figure 3 is an end view of the dog shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 with one side of the body broken away to disclose the operating mechamsm;

Figure 5 is a side view of the toy with the heads in their intermediate positions, certain parts being broken away;

Figure 6 is a side view of a portion of the dog in bone retrieving position, as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a vertical section of the toy taken on the lines 7-7 shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a switch element in the form of a flat spring; and

Figure 9 is a view of said switch element in the form of a bent wire.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the body of the dog has as its principal elements a pair of side walls or panels 11 and 12 which may be conveniently molded out of some suitable plastic substance. These side walls 11 and 12 are secured together at the ends of the body by means of tie rods 13 and 14 as well as by the upper pivot rod 15. The walls 11 and 12 of the body, as shown best in Figure 7, are spaced apart far enough to receive a rocking element 17 pivoted on the rod 15. In the present instance, the rocker or tumbler 17 has integral end extensions 18 and 19, each simulating a head of a dog, one of them pointing forwardly, i.e., in the outbound direction of travel as shown in Figure 1, and the 2,971,289 Patented Feb. 14, 1961 other head at the opposite end of the body pointing in the inbound direction, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. In the case of the head 19, it is equipped with a simulated object 20 which is being retrieved, in the present instance, a bone, as best shown in Figure 3.

Preferably, the simulated paws 21 at the homeward bound end of the dog are spaced apart far enough to receive the length of the bone 20 so that the bone may be completely concealed, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4.

The central lower portions of the side walls 11 and 12 are apertured to form bearings for the ends of the spindle 22 on which there is formed integral therewith an open ended, cylindrical roller 23. The outer periphery of the roller 23 is formed with a series of V- shaped corrugations 24 extending parallel with the horizontally disposed spindle 22. These corrugations 24 extend completely around the circumference of the roller 23, which roller is large enough to extend with its periphery below the bottom surfaces of the paws 21. of the dog. Thus, the corrugations or teeth 24 of the roller 23 will be pressed down upon the floor or other surface upon which the toy is supported for its inbound and outbound retrieving errand. As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7, the interior of the wheel or spool 23 is made with an integral stud 25 which receives the eye 26 of the end of a helical spring 27 located within the barrel of the wheel 23 and having its other end 28 anchored to an ear 29 integral with the inner face of the side panel 12. The spring 27 constitutes a motor or driving means for the return trip of the dog. To send the dog on' its errand, the child imparts to the toy, by propelling it, a forward push when it is in the position shown in Figure 1. The outbound direction is indicated by the arrow 30 (see Figure 1).

The outbound or ballistic movement of the dog is slowed down by the winding up of the spring 27 due to the rolling action of the wheel 23 on the supporting surface. Finally, when the forward movement is arrested,

the spring is completely Wound up, and as a result, will begin to move the dog backwards, i.e., in an inbound direction. An an incident to, and as a result of, the initial portion of this return movement, the wheel 23 will begin to rotate on its axis in the direction indicated by ,the arrow 31 (see Figure 4).

It will be seen from an examination of Figures 4, 5 and 7 that the rocking element 17 is provided on its lower face with a pair of spaced ribs 32 on the inside faces of which are pairs of lugs 33, which lugs serve to position the lower end of a flexible spring designated as a whole at 34, and shaped somewhat like a wishbone. Said wishbone is, in effect, a cross-the-center arrangement with a lower, downwardly extending blade 35 and upwardly, outwardly extending arms 36. The bent and rounded ends 37 of the arms 36 of the spring 34 press upwardly against the inside face of the upper wall parts 38 which connect the rocker 17 with the heads 18 and 19.

Figure 4 shows the position of the parts during the outbound movement of the dog, in which position the blade 35 will press down upon the upper-periphery of the wheel 23 in the position shown. In that position, during the outbound movement of the dog, the blade 35 serves, in effect, as a lost motion device without interfering with the movement of the wheel in the direction of the arrow 39 during the outbound movement. However, when the outbound movement is completed by reason of the end of the wind-up movement of the spring, the helical spring 27 will begin to move the wheel in the opposite direction and the corrugations 24 will then have a driving connection with the lower end of the blade 35. As a result, the blade will be carried up through the position shown at 40 in Figure 5, and finally intothe positionshown'at 41 in "Figure "6. Thereafter, during the remainder of the inbound movement of the dog, the spring 35 will merely act as a lost motion connection between the wheel '23'"and-theend ofthe spring '35 as it did during most of 'the'outbound movement of 'thedog.

As aresult 'df'the movement-f the blade 35 of"the wishbone 34, the element 35 functions "as aswitch element for rocking the position of the heads "of the dog from that shown-in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure '2.

Thus, on its inbound movement, thedo'g "willhave its inbound head erect with'itsmouth containing thebone 20.

To limit the movement of the heads due to the rocking movement of the element 17, the necks or heads "tions'over a'supportingsurfac'e, said body including side walls, "an element capable "of a limited amount "of rocking movementpivotallymounted between said "side walls, 'a headmounted on each end ofsaid'element and posi- "tion'ed so that rocking movementof "said element-exposes "one "or the other of said heads from-between "said side walls, a wheel mounted on said body 'to rotate on a horizontal axisand adapted to engage 'ithe saidsupporting tsurface'andwobe"turned on its axis as an incident "to such-engagement,'a'motor spring adapted to be wound by the rotationof saidwh'eelin Dne'iiireCtiDn 'andto'Heliver 'rnotivef'force'ito said wheel for "rotating said wheel in theother direction, and asWitchmember "for rocking said headf'supporting element to expose oneor the other of said heads depending upon'the direction of rotation Iof said wheel, said "switcnmember comprising ablade member connected at one end to .said rockably mounted element and *having its other end engaged against "the periphery of said "wheel, the end of said'bla'de member which is engaged against thejperiphery 'of said wheel normally making an angle with *a line'n'ormal toithe periphery of said wheel and which extends to a point on said blade member spaced from the periphery of said wheel, said blade member being mounted for longitudinal and hinged movement whereby a change of direction of said wheel causes said blade member to move from one side of the line normal ..to the,periphery of said wheel to the other side thereof, thereby concealing one of the heads and exposing the other.

2. A toy comprising a body movable in opposite di rections over a supporting surface, said body including side walls, an element capable of "a limited amount of rocking movementpivotally mounted between said side walls, a head mounted on each end of said element and positioned so that rocking movementof said element exposes one or the other of said heads from between said side walls, a wheel mounted on said body to rotate on a horizontal axis and adapted to engagexthe said supporting "surface and to be turned on .its axistas an incident tor-such engagement, a motor spring adapted to he wound by the rotation of said wheel in one direction and to deliver motive force to said wheel 'for rotating said wheel in the other direction, and a switch member for rocking said head supporting element to expose one or the other of said heads depending upon the direction of rotation of said wheel, said switch member including two ends, one end of which is bifurcated and the other end of which defines a blade, said bifurcated end being connected "to said rockably mounted element and said blade erfd'being engaged against the periphery of said wheel, said blade normally being disposed at an angle "to a'line normal tothe, periphery of said wheeland which extends to a point on saidblade, said bladebeing'inounted for longitudinal movement whereby a-change of direction of said wheel causessaid bladet'o move from one .sideof the'line normal "to'the periphery of said wheel "to the other side thereof, "thereby concealing one of the he-ids and exposingthe other.

References Cited in the "file ofthispatefit 

